Egypt: Freedom Foundation Strongly Condemns Assassination of Hamid Al-Deen, Attempt to Murder Al-Abyadh in Sana'a and Many Threats to Journalists

Freedom Foundation for media freedom, rights and development strongly condemned the assassination of the Radio director in Sana'a Radio Abdul-Rahman Hamid Al-Deen by shooting him on Friday, resulting in direct injury to the head and was taken to the hospital to die on Saturday, August 16th 2014.

As well as it condemned the murder attempt of the TV director of state-owned Yemen TV, Ibrahim Al-Abyadh by setting an explosive device under his car seat when its parking in front of his house in Sana'a, Saturday noon, August 16th 2014.

As well as it condemned the murder threat and kidnapping the sons of Suhail TV reporter in Hodeidah province, Hafeed Al-Hutami, by an influential in Hodeidah province ,because of conducting a TV report about armed gangs in Al-Tuhaita directorate, Hodeidah province. As well as it condemned the murder threat and punishment received on phone by the editorial manager of (Al-Motamer Net) website ,Jameel Al-Ja'dabi, by an unknown person because of a publication issue.

As well as it condemned the murder and neck cutting threat to the journalist Mansour Al-Faqih through a verbal message sent with one of his relatives, by three men follow Houthi group (Ansar Allah) in the capital Sana'a, because of his press writings.

As well as it condemned what suffered by the (Asharq Alawsat) newspaper reporter in Yemen, Hamdan Al-Rahabi, of inciting, threatening of murder and accusing him of lying and deception through the social networking site (Facebook), because of a publication issue.

As well as it condemned the incitement against Al-Qaeda- specialized journalist Abdul Razak Al-Jamal, because of publishing news and information on Al-Qaeda activities , and he was accused of belonging to Al-Qaeda and that he has become the spokesman. As well as it condemned the hacking and blocking the website of Yemen News Agency(SABA) by unknown hackers, on Sunday evening, August 10th 2014.

In his report to Freedom Foundation, Ibrahim Al-Abyadh said, "A bomb was placed under the seat of my car, inside a black bag, weighing half a Kg, and observed by my father, the lawyer Mohammed under the car with a cell phone fixed to it. He informed the police department and an explosives expert was called to deactivate it before exploding."

For his part, Al-Hutami confirmed that he had received on Saturday night, August 16th2014, messages of murder threat and kidnapping his sons through the (WhatsApp) from private phone number. It also included verbal insults and threats in case of completing the press tasks. He said, "These threats came because of his preparing a press report for Suhail TV about armed gangs in Al-Tuhaita directorate, Hodeidah province, who are intercepting citizens, shooting them and have wounded some of them."

For his part, Al-Faqih said, "At Seven O'clock on Wednesday evening, August 13th 2014, three men known to be Houthis (Ansar Allah) came to my relative's house and warned me to write about Ansar Allah and threatened to cut off my head ". He added "These threats because of my publishing on the (Facebook) about the Houthi group violations of human rights and citizens in Sa'ada and Amran provinces."

In his report, Al-Ja'dabi confirmed his receiving a phone on Sunday afternoon, August 10th2014, from a private number (restricted) in which the caller threatened him of the punishment and murder, where he said to him, "Are your shroud is ready? ... You have to know that I will punish you soon, so prepare your shroud ."

Meanwhile, Al-Rahabi said, "An incitement campaign against me started on Wednesday, August 6th 2014 and I was threatened of murder, punishment and described as a liar and misleading public opinion through the (Facebook), where many publications were written, because of my publishing a report in the (Middle East) newspaper about Al-Qaeda , Hadhramout Valley and Al-Qaeda. "

In a report to Freedom Foundation, the director of (Saba Net) site, Yousuf Al-Jamri confirmed the site was hacked and a Marines picture was uploaded ,on which it is written "Hacking is done by the electronic Yemen battalions, ... we fed up the misleading and repeated news, just beware of manipulating the people's minds," he added, "Then the site was blocked and until the moment we do not know who did this hacking."

For his part, Al-Jamal confirmed that he was subjected on Friday, August 15th 2014 to an incitement and was accused of belonging to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula by (Aden Observer) website, where it published a story entitled "Al-Qaeda appoints a Yemeni journalist to be an official spokesman " and his name was explicitly mentioned.

He said, "I am a journalist specializing in Al-Qaeda affairs and not an official spokesman, according to the report."

As Freedom Foundation is strongly condemning and following with a deep concern these violations on media freedom, it considers these violations a clear indication of the serious situation on journalists and that threatens their safety, lives and the lives of their family members, and that the media freedom is at its worst. These violations are enhanced by expectations that the targeting of journalists has become systematic and not spontaneous. Therefore, Freedom Foundation demands all government agencies to quickly provide a safe environment for the journalists and to urgently investigate these serious violations, track down the perpetrators, reveal them and those who stand behind them and bring them to trial.

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